[omarhaneef]

I agree with almost all the comments here. The standardized curriculum (or, as some people put it, making you take even the classes you think you won't enjoy), and the coaching (having someone hold you accountable to deliver) is a key aspect of schools.

I will add that so is the job pipeline. I think having companies come, sign up dozens of students and recruit wholesale completely changes your odds of ending up at one of the top companies (for whatever your definition of top is: whether you want to write algos at a hedge fund, perform tech diligence for a consulting firm, work at the big tech companies, etc)